Minibar

ABSTRACT

A device for a mini bar is described that can be operated by a customer to remove goods with the removal being registered by the mini bar operator simultaneously, and possibly invoiced, and is characterized in that the mini bar is a product unit vending machine, that the product unit vending machine comprises a control system with which restrictions for delivery of product units from the vending machine can be regulated.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This Application claims priority to International Patent Application No.PCT/NO 2005/000143, filed on May 2, 2005.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a device for operation and control ofthe use of a mini bar in establishments such as overnight-stop companiesand the like.

The invention also relates to a number of applications of the deviceaccording to the invention.

In addition to use in connection with ordinary mini bars in hotel rooms,the invention can be used in connection with lobbies, reception areasand other of the common rooms in the hotel and other facilities. It canalso be used in connection with public areas, such as travel terminals,and in companies, schools and other relevant areas.

The mini bars that are in use today have, as a rule, the shape of acupboard with a door. By opening the door, the customer has access tothe whole of its content. There are also mini bars where the door can beopened with a dedicated mini bar key.

Product units from vending machines in public spaces can only be takenout on immediate payment by insertion of coins or payment via a cardsuch as a credit card, cash card, mobile telephone or the like.

As a rule, a mini bar in a hotel room contains different products whichthe hotel guest may use during his stay. Such product can be differenttypes of liquid refreshments, such as water, mineral water, lemonade,wine, spirits, and food products such as peanuts, salted cocktailsticks, chocolate and also tobacco and cigarettes. But other types ofproducts may be relevant, e.g., personal care products such as toiletarticles, soap, toothpaste, shaving equipment.

Manually operated mini bars of the simple manual refrigerator typedominate the market.

It is also possible to equip such mini bars with refrigerator functionsto provide cooling and frozen goods (e.g., ice cream), and/or that theycomprise heating elements so that the customer can, for example, heatsoups and the like.

Normally, invoicing of product consumption takes place in that thecustomer himself, when checking out, states what he has taken or thatthe room service personnel perform a stock taking.

In addition, there are also automated solutions to improve the controlof the use of mini bars. One of these comprises that all product unitsinside the mini bar are placed on respective pressure sensitive padswith connection to the invoicing system. When a product is removed, andis not put back within a given time, a signal is sent out that apurchase has been made and this is invoiced. The disadvantage with sucha system is that the customer can temporarily remove the content infavor of his own goods and an erroneous invoicing takes place. It hasbeen shown that such solutions do not give the expected reduction inloss either.

Another essential disadvantage with today's systems is that there is nopossibility to control removal of the products that are subjected toregulations from the authorities, for example, alcohol and tobaccoproducts to children and youths. Furthermore, the authorities have puttime restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

None of this is today implemented as restrictions in mini bars in hotelrooms or in vending machines in open public areas.

New solutions that lead to a simplification and increased safety for theoperation of vending machines can have a large market potential.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a solution for a minibar that will completely eliminate the disadvantages described above.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the present invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the presentinvention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the presentinvention.

It is an aim of the invention to be able to close down the free accessto a mini bar so that the customer can no longer have free access to thewhole of its content at the same time.

Furthermore, it is an aim of the invention to be able to control thedelivery of goods in a vending machine/mini bar that stands in a commonarea, particularly with regard to its delivery of alcohol and othergoods, the sale of which authorities have placed restrictions on.

It is also an aim to be able to remove all possibilities for loss fromsuch mini bars by providing a solution that makes it impossible to takeout goods from the mini bar without a safe payment or invoicing beingperformed.

At the same time, it is an aim of the invention that the front face ofthe vending machine shall provide a favorable impression of the contentby showing the products on the front face of a mini bar shaped like ashop window for the products.

One of the features that satisfy these aims is that the classic mini baris replaced by a vending machine where identification, payment orinvoicing is completely necessary to be able to take a product from thevending machine.

The device according to the invention is characterized in:

that the mini bar is a product unit vending machine; and

that the product unit vending machine comprises a control system wherebyconditions for delivery of the product units from the vending machinecan be regulated.

According to the invention, the above mentioned device is used to havecontrol over the stock in each individual vending machine, and also toproduce an overview of the turnover from the mini bars.

Furthermore, the system is applied in connection with use in one of thefacilities of a hotel, such as well-being departments, spa and massageparlors, swimming pools, fitness rooms, squash and tennis courts,discos, restaurants, Internet cafés, cinemas, etc., in that thesecomprise corresponding card readers that can be used in a mini bar andlobby bar, respectively.

One of the possibilities that the invention provides is that the systemaround a mini bar can be involved in the other information systems of ahotel where the TV set, with the remote control, is an importantelement. Thus, it is possible to invite the customer to purchaseinteractive services, and also display the selection possibilities thecustomer has, and also other information that the hotel wishes topresent.

The system can consequently be used for:

-   -   a) selection of TV channels, and films for displaying on the TV        screen 22 or the display 28;    -   b) displaying advertisements and other film material in        connection with the goods which the customer orders, as        described above; and    -   c) allowing the customer to get involved in, for example,        marketing questionnaires and also games etc., as it is all        controlled from the reception.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Referring now to the figures, wherein like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 shows a section of a hotel room and shows a mini bar with anassociated keyboard unit, display and connected TV set; and

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram that shows how the different elements of thedevice are connected together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the followingdisclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Otherembodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to suchskilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.

Initially, reference is made to FIG. 1 that shows an example of thefront face of a mini bar that can be applied by the device according tothe invention.

A Mini Bar

The mini bar 10, as a vending machine, can deliver a selection ofproduct units to a delivery chute 20 that is inserted into the frontside of the mini bar. In the front side, there is also an exhibitiondisplay for the displaying of the various goods, for example, boxes 12,bottles 14, chocolate 16 and boxes of candy 28. The purchased productunits that are released into the chute 20 can correspond to the sizesthat are shown in the display, but can also be different.

A display 28 and a keyboard 30 are shown to the left. The display 28 canhave the shape and size of a TV screen, for example, to display serviceand selection information, advertisements and to offer interactiveservices to the customer. In some cases, the display can replace anordinary TV set.

The products are chosen by using the keyboard, or by the use of buttonsthat are placed at or below each display.

The product units are placed in connection to a store and are deliveredinto the delivery chute 20 according to the customer's selection withthe help of an internal mechanism in the mini bar, not shown in moredetail.

A Lobby Bar

A lobby bar that is placed in the common areas is technically regardedas a mini bar. In addition, it is equipped as a standard vending machinethat can be operated by coin insertion, or by the use of a creditcard/mobile telephone. The data processor of the lobby bar is furtherset up to register the authorization of a user via his room key to takeout products from the lobby bar that is subjected to restrictions.

Connection

The mini bar/lobby bar is part of a system that can be seen in the flowdiagram in FIG. 2.

How the mini bar 10 according to FIG. 1 is connected to the controlsystem according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2.

The mini bar 10 according to FIG. 1 comprises its own data processor 41which, via cable 43, is connected to a data converter 44 (thatdistributes data signals). The TV set 22 is also connected to this dataconverter 43 which in turn, via cable 45, is connected to a computerunit (CU) or data unit 40. The TV set 22 is wirelessly connected furtherto the remote control 24, symbolized by the connection 23.

The data unit 40 is connected to the keyboard/screen 47 to be programmedby an operator that can be the staff in the reception of the hotel whereguests check in and out.

In addition, the data unit is connected to the data processor 62 of thelobby bar 60 via cable 64 and the lobby bar is controlled in the sameway as the mini bar.

The individual units in this system can be connected together in acombination of cables and/or wireless. For example, cables can be laidin the ceiling construction of each floor and, at suitable locations,can be connected to transmitters/receivers for wireless transmission ofsignals between the data processor of the mini bar/lobby bar and thecable system.

Communication between data units and mini bar and lobby bar is a two-wayoperation.

All use by the customers of the mini bar 10 must be via the data unit40, and this use by the customer is dependent on the restrictions andpossibilities for purchase that are laid in (programmed in) the dataunit 40 from the reception 50 (the control central). This means thatnothing can be taken out from the mini bar without the reception havinggiven a go-ahead signal via the data unit 40. That means everything canbe delivered except those products that are subjected to blocking.

Invoicing

An essential feature of the invention is that, with all removal ofproducts from the mini bar, either the bill that is presented to theguest is immediately invoiced, or a prepaid amount is already paid totake out goods. The system described above is also used in this paymentfunction for the removing of all products.

A Hotel Room—the Guest's Own “Home”

The starting point for the invention is that when the guest haschecked-in and closed the door to his room behind him, it is regarded ashis own home. Then he shall have free access to all the products thatare in the mini bar which in turn ensures that any removal of goods isautomatically invoiced.

The access to the mini bar is consequently dependent on the customerhaving received an authorized access via a room key to the hotel roomwhen checking-in at the reception. As the invoicing takes placeautomatically and immediately, nobody asks about who has removed thegoods or what time of the day it took place.

Consequently, the keyboard that is in the front of the mini bar can belimited to constitute a selection button underneath each product unitthat is on offer from the bar.

There is also the possibility that the mini bar is operating by cashpayment, or by use of credit card for the removal of ordinary productssuch as drinks, food, chocolate, etc., without invoicing taking place.The company can still keep control of the consumption and get a centraloverview of status and when the stock of the mini bar must bereplenished again.

Limitations on Removals from the Mini Bar

Previously, the restrictions from the authorities or, a wish forlimitations on the serving of alcohol and tobacco, have not beenpossible to carry out in connection with mini bars in hotel rooms.

However, with the help of the new system according to the invention, thereception can now insert any restriction on the delivery of alcohol andtobacco products from the mini bar (i.e., both in relation to the age ofthe hotel guest (children/youths) and time of the day).

For example, when a group of youths check into a hotel, and get roomkeys, the receptionist types in the necessary data to the mini bar dataprocessor 41 for the actual hotel rooms at the same time, so that noalcohol and tobacco products can be removed.

In addition to the above mentioned main component of the system, thereare a number of elements with which the customer can take out productsfrom the mini bar.

Use of “Member Card” and Credit Cards.

The customer can use a so-called member card which comprises a magneticcard or card with a chip that can be read. When used, a correct amountis subtracted directly from the customer's account, something thatdepends on the amount available to the card. These cards, smart cards,key cards and credit cards, are shown in FIG. 2 together with the optionof using the mobile phone, see below.

Remote Control.

The remote control unit 24 can also be used to carry out the orderingvia the TV set 22. At checking-in, the reception has already ensuredthat any order from the mini bar is invoiced to the customer via thedata unit 50.

Mobile Telephone.

Any data unit 40 can also communicate with a mobile network, such as GSMor similar mobile networks. Thereby, the customer can, by hitting thecorrect keys on the mobile phone 60, also be able to open for orderingfrom the mini bar.

Independent of this, the reception can put in the necessary removalblockages (alcohol etc.) in the data processor of the mini bar.

Lobby Bar

With the present invention the system in a mini bar of a hotel can bemoved out into the common areas of the hotel.

While a lobby bar can not offer the guest alcoholic beverages today,then the present invention opens up for this possibility. At the sametime a full safeguard can be maintained against, for example, youthsgetting access to alcohol and furthermore, local restrictions forserving alcohol can be taken account for. There are also restrictions onsale of such goods in connection with public holidays, elections and thelike.

On one hand, the vending machine functions as a typical vending machine,with the use of coins, credit cards and the like, or mobile phone.

On the other hand, the alcohol section of the lobby bar is limited tothe hotel guests. To remove such goods, the guest must identify himselfwith the help of his room key that is inserted into the card reader.When this is checked by the data system, the customer can freely removealcoholic beverages. The removal will be invoiced simultaneously.

When bars and restaurants in the hotel close their sale of alcohol forthe night, a corresponding blockage can be put into the lobby bar.

Restriction Put into the Room Key

However, a lobby bar can not know if a guest that wants to use the lobbybar is old enough for alcoholic beverages and the like.

Therefore, the system according to the invention also comprises anoption that the reception inputs restrictions in the magnetic strip ordata chip of the room key itself. This insertion of restrictions in aroom card 70 is shown schematically in FIG. 2.

This means that youth restrictions for access to the room mini bar,inserted into the data processor of the mini bar is correspondinglyinserted into the room key for using the lobby bar.

Further Possibilities for Use of the System According to the Invention.

The new system according to the invention, where invoicing takes placeautomatically with the use of a room key, can also be used when theguest shall use the other facilities of the hotel, such as thewell-being departments, spa and massage parlors, swimming pool, fitnessrooms, squash and tennis courts, discos, restaurants, internet café,cinemas, etc., in that these comprise card readers corresponding tothose used in the lobby bar.

For example, the reception can give all members of a family, adults andchildren, their own admission card to use such offers, and where eachuse is automatically invoiced. At the same time, the card used by achild gives free access to the facilities, which have been inserted bythe reception staff, such as the swimming pool, the cinema, the discoand the playroom, but no possibility to take out alcohol from the lobbybar.

Interactive Services.

As mentioned, the display on a mini bar and a lobby bar can have thesame form as the TV screen that is in the hotel room.

The mini bar and lobby bar can be part of a larger system connected tothe reception, the TV system of the hotel. In this way, the system canbe used for displaying, for example, advertisements, or otherinformation on the display, or possibly also on the ordinary TV screenin the room. When the customer, for example, selects a can of coke viathe keyboard unit or the remote control unit, the computer unit can putin an advertisement for the brand of coke on the display of the TVscreen.

It is also possible to let the system offer the guest interactiveservices.

With the present invention, use of mini bars and lobby bars, can be muchsimplified, both for the hotel owner and the guest/user. Furthermore,one can satisfy the authorities' requirement of control with delivery ofalcohol and the like from the vending machine, and a more secureinvoicing than what has been possible previously.

The present invention will therefore lead to the previous problems ofloss from mini bars being completely or partially eliminated.

The system can also be used so that the stock of each vending machinecan be controlled, and consequently which mini bars goods must berestocked. Furthermore, it is easy to obtain statistical informationabout the turnover from the mini bar.

It is possible to provide all this without anybody having to manuallycount how much is left in the mini bar when the guest has gone, as wasthe case previously.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings without departing from the essential scopethereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated forcarrying out this invention.

1. A system for delivery of product units from a vending machine to acustomer, comprising: a control central; and a closed vending machinecomprising a control unit configured to control conditions for deliveryof the product units from the closed vending machine and configured toregister information about product content in the closed vendingmachine, wherein the control central is configured to continuouslycollect information about the product content from the control unit andis configured to control the conditions of delivery in the closedvending machine for each customer, wherein the conditions of deliveryare sent to the control unit.
 2. A system according to claim 1, whereinthe control central is configured to continuously register the productsunits that are delivered to the customer, and wherein product unit thatthe customer buys is debited by the control center automatically afterthe purchase.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unitis programmed via the control central to regulate which of the productsunits can be delivered from the vending machine and which of theproducts units are blocked from delivery.
 4. A system as in any of thepreceding claims, wherein the control central comprises arrangements torebate the customer for some or all products in the closed vendingmachine.
 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the closed vendingmachine is configured to be operated by a feed-unit, wherein saidfeed-unit is selected from a group comprising a keyboard, a remotecontrol unit and other wireless unit.
 6. A system according to claim 1,wherein a TV set is connected to the control central, and the vendingmachine is arranged to be operated via the remote control of the TV set.7. A system according to claim 1, wherein access to the vending machineis conditioned by the use of a correct room key, wherein the access tothe room gives a corresponding access to the closed vending machineagainst a simultaneous invoicing of all withdrawals.
 8. A systemaccording to claim 5, further comprising: a card reader coupled to thevending machine, wherein said card reader reads at least one of amagnetic card of and another storing body and is used in combinationwith a code that can be keyed into the feed unit to activate the closedvending machine.
 9. A system according to claim 1, wherein saidconditions of delivery comprise delivery of products units which aresubjected to restrictions of at least one of age limits and time relatedrestrictions.
 10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising: adisplay coupled to the closed vending machine and configured to showselection possibilities and to present information.
 11. A systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the closed vending machine is located in ahotel room, and the control central is operated from the hotel receptionby an operator.
 12. A system for delivery of product units from a lobbyvending machine to a plurality of customers, comprising: a controlcentral; and a closed vending machine, placed in a common area,comprising a control unit configured to control conditions for deliveryof the product units from the vending machine, and configured toregister information about the product content in the closed vendingmachine, wherein the control central controls the conditions fordelivery in relation to which product units can be delivered from thevending machine to the customer, and which product units are preventedfrom being delivered.
 13. System according to claim 12, wherein theclosed vendor machine is located in a hotel's facilities selected fromthe group consisting of lobbies, well-being departments, spa and massageparlors, swimming pools, fitness rooms, squash and tennis courts,discos, restaurants, internet cafes, and cinemas.
 14. Method fordelivery of product units from a vending machine to a customer,comprising: a control central; and a vending machine comprising acontrol unit that controls conditions for delivery of the product unitsfrom the vending machine and registers information about product stockin the vending machine, wherein the control central continuouslycollects information about product stock from the control unit andwherein the conditions for delivery in the vending machine arecontrolled by an operator that inserts conditions for a customer thatare sent to the control unit.
 15. Method according to claim 14, whereinthe control central registers the products units that are delivered tothe customer continuously, and debits the customer automatically, afterthe purchase of the product unit.
 16. Method according to claims 14 or15, wherein the vending machine releases the product unit from thevending machine stock and delivers the chosen product unit to thecustomer via a delivery chute if the control of the control unit cancelsthe blocking function.
 17. System according to claim 12, wherein theclosed vending machine is located in public areas selected from thegroup consisting of travel terminals, companies, and schools.
 18. Systemaccording to claim 12, further comprising: a corresponding card readercoupled to the vending machine, wherein said card reader reads at leastone of a magnetic card and another storing body and is used incombination with a code that can be keyed into the feed unit to activatesaid closed vending machine.